1*74. j AMERICAN ACniCCTLTURIST. 221 
Succulents as Decorative Plants. 
BY CHARLES H. HOVEY, CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASS. 
The class of plants known as succulents is 
now attracting much attention 
imongst gardeners and amateurs on 
account of their decorative qualities 
for both the greenhouse and the 
garden. Their various and often 
grotesque forms and interesting habit 
of growth give them a peculiar in¬ 
terest, and afford a never-ending 
source of study and amusement. 
Many of them are desirable additions 
to any collection of plants; some be¬ 
ing fine bloomers, lasting in flower 
from two to three months, while 
others are indispensable for bedding 
purposes. Their great tenacity of 
life, or, in other words, the impunity 
with which they bear neglect, as also 
their rapidity of growth when cared 
for, render them universal favorites. 
Of all the plants grouped under the 
title of succulents the Echeverias will 
undoubtedly prove the most generally 
useful. They afford so great a variety 
in style of growth, and such decided 
contrasts in color, that in time we 
shall have our groups of Echeverias, 
producing a more unique and as 
striking an effect as we now have from 
our masses of Geraniums, Coleus, and 
similar bedding plants. It may be 
remarked that some botanists include 
these plants in the genus Cotyledon , 
but as this is still a disputed point it 
is best in the present article to use the 
names by which they are known in 
the collections of florists and in their 
catalogues. The following species and 
varieties are some of the most desir¬ 
able for the greenhouse and garden: 
Echeveria agavoides. — One of the 
rarest and best of the Echeverias; a 
dwarf, compact grower, with leaves 
of a semi-transparent green color, 
tipped with red, exactly resembling 
in its appearance a miniature Agave. 
E. argentea vera. —A new variety 
from California; leaves six or seven 
inches long and from one to two in 
width; the whole plant is completely covered 
with a thick white powder; this variety most 
generally grows in clumps, and is very showy. 
E. Californica. —Also rather new, from the 
Pacific coast; with long, narrow, green leaves; 
BCHEVERIA METALLICA. 
somewhat resembling in style of growth E. ago- 
voides ; a dwarf, dense grower, and very distinct. 
E. farinosa. —Another recent introduction 
from California; leaves long, narrow, sharply- 
pointed, and of a beautiful white color; simi¬ 
lar to E. argentea vera , and one of the best. 
E. lurida .—This variety is probably a hybrid 
from E. sanguinea, which it resembles in 
growth; the young leaves are of a bluish red, 
fading to a rusty brown ; a promising species. 
E. metallica. —This is the most generally 
grown of all the Echeverias, and is perhaps the 
most effective for greenhouse and garden, its 
large, pink, metallic leaves showing off to great 
advantage; and its being a very free grower 
will render it the most popular of all the 
Echeverias. The engraving shows the ap¬ 
pearance of a small specimen. 
E. metallica glauca. —Somewhat similar to 
the preceding, but more compact and regular; 
leaves large and of a bluish white color; fine 
for bedding, and a good flowering variety. 
E. Mexicana. —A new variety, after the style 
of E. secunda glauca , but much superior; of 
regular and compact growth, with leaves of a 
beautiful pale blue color, it forms a perfect 
rosette, and must supersede all others of its 
style for edging purposes; synonymous with 
E. rosularis. 
E. pumila. —In growth similar to E. secunda; 
leaves long, narrow, and of a glaucous, green 
color; a distinct variety. 
E. racemosa. —A variety said to be a hybrid 
from E. sanguinea , which it resembles in 
growth; leaves of a pinkish, salmon color. 
E. rosea. —Resembling the Cotyledons more 
than the Echeverias in growth; leaves green, 
slightly tinged or edged with red. 
E. retusa glauca. —A strong growing variety, 
with glaucous, green leaves; one of 
the best flowering varieties. 
E. retusa floribunda splendent. —The 
best of all the Echeverias for flower¬ 
ing ; flowers a brilliant scarlet, and a 
very free bloomer; similar in growth 
to E. retusa glauca , but with nar¬ 
rower leaves. See engraving. 
E. sanguinea. —A distinct species, 
with long, narrow leaves, slightly 
channeled, and of a dark red color; 
fine for bedding in contrast with the 
light-colored varieties. 
E. scaphophylla. —One of the newest 
of the Echeverias, a hybrid between 
E. agavoides and E. lingucefolia ; leaves 
blunt, and slightly channeled like the 
latter, but in growth and color si¬ 
milar to E. agavoides. 
E. secunda. —An old variety with 
green leaves; a dwarf and compact 
grower, and fine for bedding. 
E. secunda glauca. —One of the best 
for bedding; similar to E. secunda in 
growth, with leaves of a bluish white 
color; next to E. metallica , perhaps 
the most generally grown. A small 
specimen is shown in the engraving. 
E. secunda glauca major. —New and 
fine; a large variety of E. secunda 
glauca, with leaves not quite so light 
colored. 
E. secunda ramosa. —A monstrosity 
in habit of growth ; stem flat, broad, 
and covered at the top with numerous 
small green leaves; in appearance 
resembling the flower of a Cockscomb. 
E. nuda, E. lingucefolia , E. lutea 
gigantea —are all very similar to E. 
retusa glauca , and are all good flower¬ 
ing varieties. 
Of the above varieties, the six most 
distinct in style of growth and con¬ 
trast of color are E. metallica , E. 
Mexicana , E. farinosa, E. agavoides , 
E. sanguinea , and E. metallica glauca. 
All the species and varieties above 
described ma/ be propagated from 
seeds or cuttings, and most of them from single 
leaves; if raised from seed it should be sown 
and treated similarly to Cineraria or Calceolaria 
seed. If propagated from cuttings or leaves 
they should be laid away on a dry shelf until 
they become thoroughly dry or callous, and 
then be potted in a light, sandy mixture and 
ECHEVERIA SECUNDA GLAUCA. 
sparingly watered until rooted. As soon as 
rooted, if they are repotted in a mixture of 
leaf-mold or well-rotted manure and loam, 
with one fifth part sand, they will amply repay 
the trouble of repotting. 
[Last winter we received from Messrs. Olm 
Brothers, of Newark, N. J., a fine specimen 
